There better be a burning body, but not an eternal fire.....or someone's going to be HOT!

With a disaster as horrific as Japan's, there is no way to escape discussions about earthquakes, tsunamis, and death......with 4 year olds.

Earthquakes were simple, because we've discussed the composition of the planet enough times that the kids understand plate shifts, etc.

Tsunamis were also simple enough because the kids have been to the ocean and saw some images in the news....so we didn't have a hard time tackling that.

Death, well, I'm letting them lead...and all I know to give them is honesty. And this is where the first fork in the road appears. Is it a fork if it splits off multiples directions?

I think the kids are more concerned with understanding why "kill" is bad and "death" is okay. And, I have to admit, I am shocked with how considerate they seem to be on the matters. I don't like them to say "kill", because I think it is just terrible. I never want them to feel the slightest bit comfortable with such a terrible concept.

Death, though....death is something real, and certain, and I don't ever want it to be a scary concept for my kids. Explaining death is tricky, though, because Adam believes that when you die, you die. Done. No afterlife, no heaven, no hell, just done. I believe in reincarnation. I always have....so articulating the idea to the kids has been easy enough. I have also explained the "popular" concept of heaven.

But what do YOU think? Can you email me your ideas?

I want to provide them as much information as I possibly can. Their hearts will guide them in the appropriate direction as they grow.